Mylène Farmer

[Jazzmin]

As for me, it is not visible in this particular song that she should decide against it (Moi, j’ai le souffle court... in the music video the character attempts to take her life as well, vide the gentle balloon metaphor).

Of course, I get it that a simple use of some element does not make the element the main theme of the song. But in this song suicide does recurr. The disappointment works as a preludium to it, then the beauty and goodness of this world are mentioned to remark the paradox (constant conjuction "mais") they do not make the ego stay.

BTW, Mylene herself meant CUBJ as a song about suicide and the orginal lyrics were a bit more literal...

Je fais appel à ma mémoire, mais je me souviens quand j'ai écrit C'est une belle journée, dans le refrain, j'avais mis: "C'est une belle journée / Je vais me tuer", à la place, aujourd'hui, de: "C'est une belle journée / Je vais me coucher". Et, je crois que là, ce pourrait être un appel au suicide pour certaines personnes un peu fragiles. Et, j'ai changé ce mot pour un autre, parce que c'était peut-être tout d'un coup quelque chose de trop fort, trop déterminant. Je crois que tout est possible à partir du moment où, une fois de plus, on ne fait de mal à personne.

Source: http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farm...8-janvier-2006

By no means am I demanding your interpratation be exactly like the songwriter's and pardon me if I'm sounding this way ^^' . I just think it's the most relevant, you know.

And I do know "Jardin de Vienne" - it deals with the discussed topic too but in different mood and from different point of view (in CUBJ the ego herself intends to do it; in JDV the ego copes with grief triggered by the tragic action of her friend). As for Mylene's album songs, I'm familiar with every single one of them and can assertain you there's nothing to be discovered by me on that realm. I can be perhaps astonished by uncommon, rare works of hers; it was few months ago that I came across "Bad Girl" (English version of noble "Libertine").

[Philippe]

you know many French singers, you should enjoy this Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/548403275265699/

[Not Now]

I discovered Mylene Farmer after I discovered Alizee and learned the story of her success. Farmer's music gives me a synth pop vibe similar to Gourmandises and MCE, but I've only listened to a couple of songs, no full albums. I can certainly enjoy some of her songs in a similar fashion that I enjoy Alizee's early work but I'm not a fan of Farmer's overtly sexual style. As a person, Alizee is more appealing.

[comjoz]

Originally Posted by Shepherd

I met Alizee in New York in 2003. I live in San Antonio, Texas, and went to the Big Apple to visit my sister, Rita, who was living there at that time. My sister took a few days off work so we could explore Manhattan. We were walking through Central Park, and on a lark decided to ride the merry-go-round. Rita, got on a horse to my left and just as the ride began a young woman jumped on the horse on my right. This took me by surprise because the marry-go-round was practically empty, perhaps 5 or 6 people on it. The girl could have sat any place. The young woman was very winsome, laughing and talking to me, but I couldn't understand a thing she said because, I don't speak French. The only French I knew was "bonjour," so I said "bonjour" and she laughed. She was with an older woman who didn't ride the merry-go-round. She stood off to the side and watched. I have no idea who this woman was. Rita had lived in Paris for a few years so I asked her to translate. She got off her horse and came around to talk to the young woman. They exchanged a few words, and then Rita said, "Oh, my God! This is Alizee." "Oh, I said," somewhat surprised that Rita would know her. "Is she a friend of yours?" "No, she's a famous pop star in France, like Madonna." I was somewhat flustered and had no idea what to say to a famous French pop star who didn't speak English, so I said, "bonjour." Alizee laughed. It was a little awkward, and Alizee dismounted her horse and jumped off the merry-go-round while it was still moving and she left. The whole event couldn't have taken more than 3 or 4 minutes. I marked it down as an interesting experience and quickly forgot about it because--frankly--Alizee meant nothing to me. Ten years later in 2013, I was cruising You Tube and stumbled upon the video of Alizee singing "J'en Ai Marre." She knocked me out of my chair. She looked familiar, but I wasn't sure it was the girl in the park. I called Rita who confirmed, "Yes, that was Alizee." I think Alizee got onto the merry-go-round next to me to see if a stranger in America would recognize her, and sure enough, I didn't. Now I'm a severely addicted fan.

Awesome story. Now, just tell us was it just a dream of yours, or was it for real?

[Shepherd]

Originally Posted by comjoz

Awesome story. Now, just tell us was it just a dream of yours, or was it for real?

No, it was real. While she was on the horse next to me, I kept staring at her because she was, on the one hand, very attractive and on the other the "girl next door." I was wondering why a young woman would jump up next to a perfect stranger who was much older, bald headed with a pot belly. She couldn't be flirting and she had to pay to get on the merry-go-round, so what was the reason? I think my staring made her uncomfortable, and we couldn't really talk, so she left. I have never taken an intense interest in any pop star before, and now wonder if that incident is why I have become so fixated on Alizee. It kills me that I didn't know her, and it amazes me what an impact those few minutes have made on my life.

I had a similar experience when I was driving a taxi in Chicago. As a rule drivers didn't like passengers sitting in the front seat because there were so many robberies. In the back seat we were separated by a shield. The doormen at the big hotels understood this and would put customers' luggage on the front seat and the passengers in the back. One day at the Palmer House the doorman opened the front door and a man jumped in. He leaned forward and stuck his face in mine, and said, "Hi, hows things going." It was Eddie Fisher. This was shortly after he had broken up with Liz Taylor. I think he just wanted a fan to go crazy over meeting him, and I think Alizee wanted something similar on the merry-go-round.

On the day we met Alizee in New York, my son was making movies of our trip, but he didn't tape the merry-go-round. The incident happened so fast we didn't think to take photos, and I've been kicking myself ever after. I was so close and yet so far away.

I've been trying to figure out who the older woman was with Alizee. It definitely was not MF, and I didn't think it was Alizee's mother because the woman was a little heavier set than photos I have seen of her mother when Alizee won the airplane contest. Now, I'm not so sure. Maybe it was her mother. This was a few years after the airplane contest and she could have put
on weight.

[Ray4AJ]

Perhaps it was Bilitis

[Scruffydog777]

Originally Posted by Shepherd

No, it was real. While she was on the horse next to me, I kept staring at her because she was, on the one hand, very attractive and on the other the "girl next door." I was wondering why a young woman would jump up next to a perfect stranger who was much older, bald headed with a pot belly. She couldn't be flirting and she had to pay to get on the merry-go-round, so what was the reason? I think my staring made her uncomfortable, and we couldn't really talk, so she left. I have never taken an intense interest in any pop star before, and now wonder if that incident is why I have become so fixated on Alizee. It kills me that I didn't know her, and it amazes me what an impact those few minutes have made on my life.

I had a similar experience when I was driving a taxi in Chicago. As a rule drivers didn't like passengers sitting in the front seat because there were so many robberies. In the back seat we were separated by a shield. The doormen at the big hotels understood this and would put customers' luggage on the front seat and the passengers in the back. One day at the Palmer House the doorman opened the front door and a man jumped in. He leaned forward and stuck his face in mine, and said, "Hi, hows things going." It was Eddie Fisher. This was shortly after he had broken up with Liz Taylor. I think he just wanted a fan to go crazy over meeting him, and I think Alizee wanted something similar on the merry-go-round.

On the day we met Alizee in New York, my son was making movies of our trip, but he didn't tape the merry-go-round. The incident happened so fast we didn't think to take photos, and I've been kicking myself ever after. I was so close and yet so far away.

I've been trying to figure out who the older woman was with Alizee. It definitely was not MF, and I didn't think it was Alizee's mother because the woman was a little heavier set than photos I have seen of her mother when Alizee won the airplane contest. Now, I'm not so sure. Maybe it was her mother. This was a few years after the airplane contest and she could have put
on weight.

You didn't really describe the other people who were on the ride. I'm guessing they were younger than you. I'll bet Alizée might have been looking at the ride, wanting to get on, but maybe being a little reluctant because of the older person with her. Then she probably saw you and your sister who were older and thought well if they can ride, I certainly can ride and again you two being a little older, she probably felt safer getting on, near the two of you.

[comjoz]

I like this one by Mylène, it's Ainsi-soit je from her En Concert 1989: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bmAkH-pd6M&t=3867s

[Scruffydog777]

Originally Posted by comjoz

I like this one by Mylène, it's Ainsi-soit je from her En Concert 1989: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bmAkH-pd6M&t=3867s

I don't know if you realize it, but the video and the link you posted were for the whole concert. If it's in the concert, can you post the time for the beginning of the song?

[Shepherd]

Originally Posted by Scruffydog777

You didn't really describe the other people who were on the ride. I'm guessing they were younger than you. I'll bet Alizée might have been looking at the ride, wanting to get on, but maybe being a little reluctant because of the older person with her. Then she probably saw you and your sister who were older and thought well if they can ride, I certainly can ride and again you two being a little older, she probably felt safer getting on, near the two of you.

The merry-go-round was practically empty, perhaps as few as seven or eight people. Alizee had to pay to get on, and then ran off after 2 or 3 minutes. It was a very brief moment in my life, but it was pivotal. I know it's hard to believe this story, and I wish I had at least one photo as proof, but it really did happen. I was staring at her so hard, without saying anything, I'm sure it made her uncomfortable. She was, on the one hand, very attractive and on the other the girl next door. I think of all the things I could have done, but without speaking French and really not knowing her at all, I was at a total loss. To be so close and yet so far away, what a frustration.